By researching Jeffrey Wilson, I have found that this man was truly one who loved his people and wanted to tell there story. By writing the "Colored Notes", Wilson documented the story of a proud people....

Portsmouth's Black Community,
during the 1920's

~Carlos D. Seward~
Researcher

In the twenties, few African American writers for newspapers were writing columns in white newspapers in the South. The Portsmouth Star, the popular newspaper for the city of Portsmouth, Virginia discovered a prolific writer by the name of Jeffrey T. Wilson. In the ealry twentieth century, both blacks and whites followed daily events in the Portsmouth through the eyes of Jeffrey T. Wilson, who wrote the column, "Colored Notes" for the Portsmouth Star newspaper.

Before these articles written by Jeffrey Wilson appeared, many of the newspaper acrticles wriiten in the local papers either ridiculed or embarrased African Americans. The article "Colored Notes" brought the black readership of the city of the newstands of the Portsmouth Star. These articles written by Jeffrey Wilson gave news of the black churches, anniversaries, new births, social events, and black philosophy according the Wilson's own view and that of the community. Wilson sometimes commented on local, state, and national political ideas. He was very outspoken and often would take "verbal shots" at the white power structure.

Jeffery Wilson was born into slavery in the city of Portsmouth, Virginia on May 10, 1843. He was the son of Robert Wilson and Mary (Tatem) Taylor. He amazingly managed to outlive four wives. Before the in-depth research of this area, it was only known that he was married four times by accounts from family members. The researcher has successfully uncovered the marriage certificates of all four of Wilson's wives. This is quite interesting to note because of the dramatic age differences between him and hislast few wives. Not only that he had nine children according to records from the births between his first and fourth wife. Futher research is to be done on the second and third wives and there backgrounds as we explore local history.

Wilson was employed as a bailiff in the Norfolk Court System. He was known for walking about the city to get to his destinations. In fact, he walked every day from his house to the ferry, which would take him across the Elizabeth River to the Norfolk Courthouse.

Jeffrey Wilson's death was the result of an accident which occured in 1929 when he was struck by an automobile on his way home from a bible class meeting at his beloved Emanuel A.M.E. Church. The man driving the car, Jasper Deans, was not charged for this accident. Immediately after the accident, Wilson was taken to Kings Daughter's Hospital where he remained until a few days before his death. Wilson spent his last years living with his son, Frank Wilson at 610 North Street (a house which still is standing today), which was across the street from Wilson's church.

"Ye Scribe", as he would refer to himself in the "Colored Notes" column was truly one of the outstanding citizens of Portsmouth and a man in whom we all should admire. During the course of his life, he lived through slavery, the Civil War, Reconstruction, an American Industrial Revolution, and many presidents. The most important thing that one can note that he lived through was the social change and status of the Black community of Portsmouth. Wilson and his "Colored Notes" has left behind not just a legacy, but a window into the past, a window into a community, and a window into a world that this butting historian has enjoyed researching.